[Media Today/reported by reporter Li Zudong]
According to the latest Global Travel Health Notices issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 16 countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Maldives, and Cuba in Central and South America have recently experienced an abnormal increase in dengue fever cases and have been listed as “Level 1: Caution.” The Kaohsiung City Government Health Bureau specifically reminds people who are planning to go abroad in the near future to take preventive measures.
The Health Bureau stated that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has discovered through monitoring that the diagnosis rate of travelers returning from specific regions has increased abnormally recently, and has issued a Level 1 global travel alert for 16 high-risk countries, including Vietnam, Maldives, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, East Timor, New Caledonia, and Samoa in Asia and Oceania; Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, and Guyana in the Americas and Caribbean; and Mali, Mauritania, and Sudan in Africa.
According to statistics from the Health Bureau, the number of dengue fever cases imported from abroad in the city from 2012 to 2015 was mainly those returning from tourism in Thailand and the Maldives, followed by those returning from visiting relatives in Vietnam. Foreign migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines were also infected. People traveling to high-risk countries, visiting relatives, and doing business are reminded to implement anti-mosquito measures. In addition, the city has recently seen the second confirmed case of dengue fever imported from abroad this year. In order to ensure the health of people traveling abroad, a “Complete Anti-mosquito Strategy” has been specially compiled to remind citizens to implement travel-related epidemic prevention measures to maintain public health.
Before going abroad: Carry out environmental patrols and cleaning, and prepare anti-mosquito liquid containing active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin or IR3535 approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the Environmental Protection Agency.
During the trip: Wear light-colored long-sleeved clothes and pants to reduce the exposed skin area.
Accommodation environment: Choose accommodation with screen windows, screen doors or air conditioning; if camping outdoors, use mosquito nets. When Aedes mosquitoes like to go out after sunrise and before sunset, mosquito repellent spraying should be strengthened.
The Health Bureau specifically reminds people that if they have fever symptoms after returning to the country or when entering the country, they can receive a 500 yuan gift voucher if they cooperate with the epidemic and wait for the NS1 rapid test results. If the NS1 rapid test negative test results are notified, the hospitalization period is free (excluding food expenses and self-paid ward fees) and a 1,000 yuan gift certificate. The taxi fare from the airport to the designated hospital will be verified and paid. Once confirmed, a notification bonus of 2,500 yuan will be given.
The Health Bureau also once again calls on the public to seek medical treatment at a Dengue Fever Integrated Medical Contract Hospital ( ) if they have suspected symptoms within 14 days of entering a high-risk area for dengue fever. When seeking medical treatment, they should actively cooperate with their mobile phones to scan the QR CODE and fill out the TOCC questionnaire, and inform the doctor of their activity history to facilitate early diagnosis, early prevention and treatment, and to prevent the virus from entering the community and causing the spread of the epidemic. We call on the community to fully cooperate with the city government’s emergency epidemic prevention measures to jointly fight overseas and protect the health and safety of the community.
